Tools, Supplies, & Additional resources

Flowers 101

Cut flower Care Basics

— Beautiful blooms. Select the freshest flowers you can find. Stems should be sturdy, not mushy or squashed.

— Keep it clean. Clean tools, clean vase, clean water.

— Prep work. Prepare your flowers for design work by removing leaves and thorns, giving stems a fresh cut, and placing them in clean, cold water. Florists refer to this set of steps as “conditioning” or “processing” flowers.

If you want to create a "picked from the garden" look, pull the center petals out of roses.

You can also "reflex" roses. Starting with the outermost layer, pull back 3-5 layers of petals. Don't pull the petals off, just back. It'll feel like you're turning each petal inside out. (Try reflexing tulips as well!)

My flowers are stuck together! What now?

Flowers that have clusters of tiny blooms, like chamomile or feverfew, tend to get tangled.

To separate them, flip the flowers upside down and gently shake, tease, and pull the blooms apart.

How do I condition hydrangeas?

Cut the bottom of the stem on an angle. Then, slicing straight into the stem, make another small cut up the length of the stem. The extra cut helps the hydrangea drink more water. You’ll also want to do this with other branches like lilac, cherry, etc.

Hydrangeas are unusual in that their petals can drink water. If they’re looking sad, spray the heads with water or dunk them in a sink or bucket of water for an extra dose of hydration.

Before designing with hydrangeas, recut each stem and dip the bottom 1/2 inch into alum powder. (This isn’t a must, but it’ll help them last longer.)

How do I condition poppies?

Remember: burn or boil.

Cut the stem on an angle. Then: sear the end with a flame or dip it in boiling water.

(A barbecue lighter or an electric kettle can make this a quick and easy task.)

How do I process hellebores?

That electric kettle is going to come in handy again! Cut stems on an angle, dip the ends in boiling water for 30 seconds, then place them in cold water.

How do I process lilies?

Cut on an angle and place in water. Remove the anthers using a tissue. Use pipe cleaners to clean off any pollen that's left behind on the petals.

How should I process daffodils?

Daffodil stems release a sap that’s harmful to other flowers. Before arranging with them, cut the stems on an angle and place in clean water. Leave the daffodils to hydrate for at least six hours before arranging them with other flowers.

Here's the key: every time you cut them, daffodils release sap. You'll need to cut the stems to the height you want them to be in your vase before letting them hydrate for six hours.

…I think my cut flowers moved overnight. Am I imagining things?

Nope! If you think they moved, they probably did. Here are a few fun examples of this:

Tulips are phototropic. They grow and bend towards the light.

Some flowers, like tulips and anemones, continue to grow after they’ve been cut. Keep this in mind when designing with them!

Anemone blooms close at night and/or in the dark. Keep this in mind when using them in a dark, candlelit wedding venue.

Snapdragons bend towards the sky. Thanks to negative gravitropism, their stems are pulled in the opposite direction of gravity. Other gravitropic flowers include bells of Ireland and tulips.

Do I need to use flower food?

No. Clean water and a fresh cut are enough to keep flowers happy. Replace the water in your buckets/vases and recut stems daily.

That said, flower food can help flowers last longer, which is always a good thing when it comes to weddings, events, and single order deliveries.

Try both options, and see which works best for you!

What is Quick Dip?

Quick Dip is a chemical solution that helps flowers hydrate and open quickly. Florists often use it with roses.

To use it, pour a small amount in a shallow vase or bucket. Give stems a fresh cut, then give the ends a brief dip in the liquid. (See what they did there?)

After you’ve dipped, place the flowers in a bucket filled with clean water.

— Learn the names of flowers. If you don’t have a flower market near you, searching Sierra Flower Finderis a great way to get started. (Our Pinterest boards can help too!)

— Research how cut flowers behave in different conditions. Which ones hold up out of water? What flowers continue to grow after they’ve been cut? Start by learning about these crowd pleasers: roses, tulips, daffodils, ranunculus, peonies, and dahlias.

How to buy wholesale flowers

Shop Local (Flowers)

The vast majority of flowers sold in the United States are flown in from other countries. Flowers are beautiful, but the cut flower industry has an ugly side: the shipping emissions, packaging waste, and toxic preservatives involved in flying flowers around the world, as well as the worker exploitation and heavy use of carcinogenic pesticides that occur on industrial flower farms.

Whenever possible, we urge you to source your flowers from local farmers. Aim to work with people whose names and stories you know and whose work you believe in supporting.

Choosing to source from local farms means that:

your flowers will arrive in water, instead of packed in boxes without water for hours/days

Pack a bag, box, or crate with the tools and supplies that you’ll need to bring with you to the wedding venue. (Clippers, scissors, wire, tape, extra ribbon, an extra vase or two, drop cloths, garbage bags, paper towels, etc.)

Make a checklist of items to pack last minute on the wedding day. Keep the list in your kit.

3. Set up your workspace.

Aim for efficiency. Making extra, unnecessary movements can cause fatigue and muscle strain.

Stock supplies in a place that's easy to reach.

Use high work tables. (Or put your vase on an upside-down bucket to create extra height.)

Remind them to keep the bouquets in water and out of the sun for as long as possible.

Provide them with paper towels that they can use to dry the stems.

— Help:

Offer to help your clients' family members pin on bouts and corsages.

— Surprise:

Leave a card in the gift box! Wish your clients a lifetime of love and happiness—and thank them for working with you.

14. Clean up your workspace.

Get cleanup over with, especially while you have help. Wash vases, buckets, clippers, and knives. Sweep the floor. Put away supplies. Decide what to do with leftover flowers. (Take some home to enjoy!)

15. Celebrate! You did it!

Wedding flowers

Wedding Flowers FAQ

How far in advance should I purchase flowers for a wedding?

3-4 days before the wedding if you have a cooler or a fridge; 2 days before if you don't.

Hand-tied bouquets are traditionally tied with twine, but most florists use stem wrap to bind a wedding bouquet.

When deciding what to use, consider the shape of your bouquet. Waterproof floral tape is the best option if you're making a rounded, classic shape. Zip ties are ideal if you're building a loose, garden-style bouquet.

Any tips for finishing a bouquet?

o Invest in sharp, high-quality ribbon shears!

o You don't need to use that much ribbon. Your ribboned "handle" can be the length of 1-2 fists.

o Secure the ribbon with boutonnière or corsage pins. Push the pin through the fabric and into the stems at an angle. (Up towards the blooms is easiest, but down into the stems can work too.) Make sure the pins won't poke your bride's hands!

o Remove leaves or petals that are stuck between the stems.

o Give stems a fresh cut, this time straight across through the stems. (Not on an angle.) Place in a vase with clean water, and spray with Crowning Glory.

o Some florists prefer to finish bouquets at wedding venues, to keep the ribbon from getting wet. (Especially when working with hand dyed fabric that could bleed.)

Any tips for binding boutonnières?

o You don't need to wrap the entire length of a boutonnière with tape. Use just enough stem wrap that your bout will stay together. (But do make sure you cover all the tape with ribbon!)

o Trim the ends with a clean, angled cut. Stick two boutonnière or corsage pins into the boutonnière, so it’s ready for use.

o If you don’t have a cooler or floral fridge to keep them fresh, store boutonnières upright in small jars or votive holders. Pour a little water into the bottom of the jar, give stems a clean cut, and leave the bouts to hydrate.

Can I put XYZ (type of flower) in a bouquet or boutonnière?

o When in doubt, experiment! Cut a short piece of the flower you’re considering, spray it with Crowning Glory, and leave it out of water for several hours. How does it look? If it's still fresh, use it. If it's dying, stick to using it in centerpieces.

o Flowering branches, in general, don't hold up well in bouquets. (But test them; see what happens with the type you're considering.)

o Be careful with berries or anything else that could get crushed and leave a stain on a white dress.

What’s the best way to put together an arch, chuppah, arbor, or mandap?

For a birch structure, go with one from Northern Boughs. Skip the assorted screws and bolts. Instead, secure the poles together with zip ties. Make sure the vertical poles are firmly attached to the metal feet, and that the structure is stable.

o Use floral glue to secure a flat leaf to the central plastic piece of a Lomey wristlet. (Make sure the leaf is large enough to cover it.) Then glue flowers to the leaf to create your design. Once the glue has dried, replace the band with ribbon for a more contemporary look.

o Alternatively: make two mini boutonnières, zip tie them to the central plastic piece, then secure additional flowers with glue. This video provides a great tutorial for this method.

o Use a metal bracelet blank to create a wrist cuff. Glue the flowers to the blank with floral glue or a glue gun.